The art of speaking is one of the most in-demand skills in the world today. However, far more valuable, is the ability to be a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker is not just an average public speaker or orator. S/He is someone who speaks to inspire people. Motivational speakers inspire people to dream big and reach for their potential, and to also push themselves beyond their self-imposed limits, or whatsoever boundaries life may have set for them, for them to fulfil their dreams.

Motivational speakers know just the right words to use, to provoke a desired change in the minds and hearts of their hearers. They are trained psychologists, and they use the power of words to create impressions that drive people in a predetermined direction.

Motivational speakers themselves are one of the most valuable resources any community can ever have. In Nigeria, there are lots of them. These days, even young university graduates and have begun to parade themselves as motivational speakers, because of the level of impact that is obtainable in the field.

In this post, we shall be looking at the best motivational speakers in Nigeria. These ones have been on the scene for a long time, and their impact cuts across all facets of human existence. They have come from all walks of life and are the main influencers of millions of Nigerians today. The average responsible young man or woman will surely mention one or two of these people as their motivators or role models. That’s how impactful they are.

In no order, here are the best motivational speakers in Nigeria. we have listed ten of them. Kindly note that, this list is by no means exhaustive. There are still many more asides the ones here; we have just listed these, because they are so far the most influential.

Revd. Sam Adeyemi

Reverend Sam Adeyemi is a Pastor, teacher, motivational speaker, life coach, relationship coach, leadership expert and Entrepreneur. He is the founder and senior pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos. He is one of the most sought-after speakers in Nigeria and abroad. He regularly speaks at leadership conferences and motivational programs within and outside the country.

Sam Adeyemi is passionate about teaching time-tested principles for Success, Leadership and Finances via seminars. He serves as the President of Success Power International, an NGO that organizes financial, leadership and motivational seminars. He also founded Daystar Leadership Academy, a leadership development institute for clergymen and business owners. His program ‘Success Power’ airs on radio and television and radio stations in Nigeria and abroad.

Oluwafeolami Durotoye

Oluwafeola Durotoye, also known simply as ‘Fela’ Durotoye, is one of the best motivational speakers of our time. He has been on many platforms within and outside the country. He is the first ever Nigerian motivational speaker to declare interest in the running for the seat of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Over the years, he has championed many campaigns mainly targeted at getting the youths of the country to rise and begin to take responsibility for their outcomes.

He is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Visible Impact, which is his umbrella organization for achieving his objectives. His projects include Project RAISE, GEMSTONE (Generation that will be Empowered, Motivated, and Stirred to Operate with Natural Excellence), and many more.

Fela holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Economics, as well as an MBA. Asides his motivational speaking, he also a business strategist and a consultant. He is an accomplished author and speaker, and has written several books, many of which have become national best-sellers.

Steve Harris

Steve Harris is one of the household names in the motivational speaking industry. He is a highly-intellectual speaker and motivator, and he has featured on platforms and conferences all over the world. In April 2016, he appeared on a global list of the one hundred top business coaches to follow on Twitter.

He currently serves as the Managing Director of ‘EdgeEcution’, a management consulting company based in Nigeria. He is a member of a number of top fellowships and associations in Nigeria and in other countries, such as the International Coach Federation (ICF), the Life Coaches Association of Nigeria (LCAN), and the International Certified Consultants Association (ICCA), Canada.

He is also an author and entrepreneur. One of his books which turned out to be a national best-seller is titled “The Shortest Distance Between Where You Are and Where You Want To Be”.

Ubong Essien

Also known as ‘Mr. Motivator’, Mr Ubong Essien is a foremost public speaker and trainer. He is reportedly the first public speaking professional in Nigeria to be certified by an international body in the field. He is a widely-traveled motivational speaker and trainer, and he currently serves as the Dean of The School of Eloquence, which is a training center for intending public speakers, with offices in Lagos and the United Kingdom. In 2007, he organized the first ever speakers’ summit in Nigeria. the event brought together the likes of the President of the American Speakers Association, Lenora Billings-Harris, Robyn Pearce, and many more global speaking icons.

He is a veteran in the field of human capital development, and has been a training facilitator for the Lagos state government, the Imo state government, and a number of top brands within and outside the country, including: HP Nigeria, John Holt Engineering, Voice of Nigeria, Tastee Fried Chicken, Brila F.M, Fidelity Bank, Guinness Plc, Nigeria Tribune newspaper, Nigerian Bottling Company, AIICO Insurance, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), May and Baker, UAC Foods, and many more.

He is literally a household name in the field of speaking and consulting.

Lanre Olusola

Also known as ‘The Catalyst’, Mr. Lanre OLusola is one of the most popular and impactful motivational speakers in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. His area of expertise borders on triggering Life, Mind, Emotions and Behavioural changes in people, in order to help them get from here they are, to where they desire to be in life. He is a widely-travelled life coach and consultant.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Lagos, and he is also a graduate of Harvard Business School, U.S.A. He is a certified life coach and trainer, and he is a veteran in the areas of human psychology, performance management, metamedicine, neurolinguistics programming, behavioural psychology, and many more.

He is the founder and CEO of Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy (OLCA), and through that platform, he offers coaching and consultancy services. He has either consulted with and/or worked for several top organizations within and outside Nigeria, including GT Bank, the Government of the United Kingdom, the British Council, World Bank, Ericsson, First Bank Plc, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, StanBic IBTC, and even the federal government of Nigeria.

He is known to have the ability to provide spot-on solutions to problematic cases, and also to impart problem-solving skills to his trainers.

Leke Alder

Mr. Leke Alder is one of the most influential and highly-intellectual motivational speakers and trainers that Nigeria has ever produced. He is widely regarded as the ‘father of branding’. He is the founder and president of Alder Consulting, an outfit that focuses on image branding for firms and companies within and outside Nigeria. Alder Consulting has offices in Lagos and the United Kingdom.

Leke Alder is not just a motivational speaker and trainer, he is also a policy analyst, advisor and management consultant. He has consulted on business management, policy formulation and politics at almost every level of government, nationally and internationally. He consulted for the federal government of Nigeria on Policy matters, as well as the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, and Information and Communication. Recently, the federal government of Nigeria appointed him to serve on the Board of NEITI (Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative). During his tenure, he served as chairman of the communications committee and the tenders committee. He is also a member of many other boards of top conglomerates within and outside the country.

He also founded an institution called ‘A Figment of Imagination’. Through it, he aims to inspire people to exploit their potential, and he also carries out consulting work via that platform.

Sesan Kareem

Mr. Sesan Kareem is a widely-travelled motivational speaker, trainer, management consultant, life coach and author. Also known as ‘SK’, he has written up to half a dozen books bordering on issues ranging from personal fulfilment to self-development and self-actualization.

He is a graduate of Pharmacy from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun state, and he is also an alumnus of the prestigious Daystar Leadership Academy, Lagos, Nigeria. He is a GLTI-certified (Global Leadership Training Institute) trainer in matters of leadership, management and small and medium businesses.

SK’s work has seen him conduct trainings and consultations for MTN Nigeria, First City Monument Bank, ITF, pharmaceutical companies, and some state governments.

As a graduate of Pharmacy, he writes for Pharma news, which is the oldest health-related magazine in Nigeria and west Africa.

Niyi Adesanya

Niyi Adesanya is a popular motivational speaker. He is also a life coach, leadership expert, and human capacity development consultant. He is the founder and president of FifthGear Consulting, a leadership and management consulting firm that focuses on improving organizational effectiveness through consultancy, training and interventions. He is a true leader and motivator, and he is a mentor to many in Nigeria and beyond.

He serves as the president of ‘ACES’ (Alliance of Change Empowerment Speakers). ‘ACES’ is an exclusive network of speakers, change agents, and human capital developers and enthusiasts. He also founded ‘NAME-IT’ (Niyi Adesanya Mass Empowerment Initiative). Through this initiative, he aims to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst young Nigerians, and to also drive business and life success. He does this through his annual seminars tagged ‘Business Bounce Back, Bounce Up’.

Niyi Adesanya is a very passionate and skilled speaker. He started his speaking career back in 2005 and has since worked with top corporate entities like Etisalat Nigeria, Chevron oil, and many more. He is also an author and has written several motivational books.

Olakunle Soriyan

Kunle Soriyan is, first and foremost, a Pastor and minister of the gospel. He serves as a pastor at Fountain of Life Church, Nigeria. He is also a very powerful and inspirational speaker.

His story is one that falls under the category called ‘from grass to grace’. He often tells of how he rose from poverty and obscurity into limelight. He shares experiences of how his life went from bad to good, and then to bad again, before he eventually rose back up. He talks about his mistakes, and constantly advices people on how to avoid them.

He is the founder and Principal Transformation Strategist at Olakunle Soriyan Company, a firm that is dedicated to human capacity building and motivation. He regularly organizes conferences in various locations and is widely sought-after at youth conventions and programs.

Muyiwa Afolabi

The tenth on our list of the best motivational speakers in Nigeria is no other person than Muyiwa Afolabi. Muyiwa Afolabi is a motivational speaker, strategic thinker, and human capital development consultant and trainer. He also trains companies in capacity building and employee engagement. He has worked with many top companies within and outside Nigeria.

Before he ventured into speaking and consulting full-time, Muyiwa worked with NITEL (Nigerian Telecommunications Plc.), Cadbury Nigeria Plc, MTN Nigeria, and a couple of other top brands. He has also conducted capacity building trainings for companies and organizations across a wide range of industries like Telecommunications, Oil and Gas, Insurance, Banking, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Media, and many more.

Muyiwa Afolabi is particularly passionate about Africans and blacks all over the world. As he speaks during his engagements, he always aims to inspire backs to think outside of whatever box that society has placed them in, and to aspire to accomplish great things in their respective fields of endeavour. His motivational talks air daily on radio and television shows.